Prisons DIG Arrested
Karnataka Police arrest Prisons DIG over forged Supreme Court release order
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Police are also investigating whether forged documents were used to release other prisoners, or whether similar incidents occurred.
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According to the Times of India, investigators allege Somashekar granted Shankar 15-day parole on three occasions despite Shankar having previously absconded while on parole.
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The complaint that prompted the investigation was filed on May 20 by the in-charge superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison, according to the Deccan Chronicle.
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Shankar had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004, and his appeals—including to the Supreme Court—did not overturn the sentence, according to the Deccan Chronicle.
A deputy inspector general at Karnataka's Prisons Department was arrested over the 2018 release of a life convict using a forged Supreme Court order. ETV Bharat reported that M. Somashekar, then chief superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison, allegedly authorized the fraudulent release of Shankar A. Aradhya, who had been serving a life sentence since 2004. Police say a prison employee fabricated the court document and that Somashekar may have withheld information during the investigation.
The case raises serious questions about prison security and document oversight. Hindustan Times reported that Somashekar granted Shankar parole three separate times despite the convict having previously absconded while on parole. Investigators are now examining whether forged documents were used to release other prisoners or if similar breaches occurred at the facility.
How a Forged Court Order Freed a Convict
In 2018, Shankar A. Aradhya walked free from Bengaluru Central Prison using a document that appeared to be a Supreme Court release order—but was actually forged. SSB Crack reported that prison employee S. Srikanth allegedly prepared the fake document. Police say Somashekar, as the prison's chief superintendent at the time, either authorized the release or assisted in processing it without proper verification of the court order's authenticity.
The fraud came to light only after a complaint was filed on May 20 by the prison's in-charge superintendent. Deccan Chronicle stated that Shankar had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004 for murder and kidnapping. His legal appeals—including petitions to the Supreme Court—had all been rejected, making the forged release order the only path to his freedom.
Repeated Parole Grants Despite Flight Risk
The investigation uncovered a troubling pattern: Somashekar approved parole for Shankar on three separate occasions. Times of India reported that this was particularly problematic because Shankar had previously absconded—failed to return—while on parole. Standard prison protocol would typically flag such a convict as a flight risk and restrict future parole grants. The repeated authorizations suggest either gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing by Somashekar.
Additional Allegations Against Prisons DIG
Beyond the forged document and unauthorized release, police have leveled more serious accusations. Times of India reported that Somashekar allegedly sexually exploited Shankar's wife. The allegation remains under investigation as part of the broader case. Police also accuse Somashekar of withholding information and obstructing the investigation after the initial complaint was filed.
Questions About Other Fraudulent Releases
The arrest of a senior prisons official over a forged Supreme Court order has raised alarm about systemic vulnerabilities. Investigators are now examining whether similar documents were used to release other prisoners from the facility. Hindustan Times reported that police are also probing whether comparable incidents occurred elsewhere. These questions suggest the fraud may not have been an isolated case but part of a wider pattern of abuse within the prison system.
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